Link chain and method of making, assembling and utilizing the same

Abstract

A link chain for use in the continuously variable transmission of the power train in a motor vehicle is assembled of pairs of composite identical or dissimilar links each having a stack of apertured plates, and of coupling units employing pairs of non-circular pins extending through registering portions of apertures in the respective stacks of plates. The pins are designed to cooperate with the plates to limit the extend of inward and outward pivotability of links of the respective pairs from positions of alignment, and the pins carry stops which act alone or cooperate with diaphragm springs or with other types of springs to prevent wobbling of the plates. The plates can be provided with projections which cooperate with the pins to limit the extent of pivotability of the pairs of links relative to each other and/or to prevent jamming of pairs of links in angular positions from which they cannot return to the positions of alignment. Each plate is traversed by two pairs of pins.

1. A link chain, comprising:
 a plurality of pairs of neighboring composite links, the links of each pair being pivotable relative to each other and each link including a stack of plates; and 
 a plurality of coupling units, one for each pair of links and each pivotably connecting the respective pair of links, each of said units including at least two adjacent coupling elements and at least some of said plates having windows for the respective coupling elements, at least some of said coupling elements being rockable about axes normal to the respective plates and having rounded external surfaces contacting rounded internal surfaces of the respective plates in said windows thereof, said rounded surfaces having radii of curvature and the ratio of the radii of curvature of said internal surfaces to the radii of curvature of said external surfaces being greater than one, and wherein points of contact between said rounded surfaces of different radii are in low critical stress areas. 
 
   
   
     2. The link chain of  claim 1 , wherein said ratio is less than five. 
   
   
     3. The link chain of  claim 1 , wherein said ratio at least approximates two. 
   
   
     4. A link chain, comprising:
 a plurality of pairs of chain links each including a stack of elongated plates; and 
 means for pivotably coupling the links of said pairs to each other, the plates of at least one of said links exhibiting a plurality of first characteristics including first lengths and first pitches p 1  and the plates of at least one other link exhibiting a plurality of second characteristics including second lengths and second pitches p 2 , at least one of said first characteristics being different from at least one of said second characteristics, the chain links of at least one of said pairs being pivotable relative to each other through a first maximum angle α max1 , the chain links of at least one other of said pairs being pivotable relative to each other through a different second maximum angle α max2 , and the ratio of said angles and said pitches satisfying the equation
   α max2   ≧p   2   /p   1 ×α max1 . 
 
 
   
   
     5. A link chain, comprising:
 a plurality of pairs of neighboring composite links, the links of each pair being pivotable relative to each other and each link including a stack of plates; and 
 a plurality of coupling units, one for each pair of links and each pivotably connecting the respective pair of links, each of said units including at least two adjacent coupling elements and at least some of said plates having windows for the respective coupling elements, at least some of said coupling elements being rockable about axes normal to the respective plates and having rounded external surfaces contacting rounded internal surfaces of the respective plates in said windows thereof, said rounded surfaces having radii of curvature and the ratio of the radii of curvature of said internal surfaces to the radii of curvature of said external surfaces being greater than one, and wherein points of contact between said rounded surfaces of different radii are in low critical stress areas, and wherein the radii of curvature of one of said internal surfaces and said external surfaces is variable since it gradually changes over the length of the surface. 
 
   
   
     6. A link chain, comprising:
 a plurality of pairs of neighboring composite links, the links of each pair being pivotable relative to each other and each link including a stack of plates; and 
 a plurality of coupling units, one for each pair of links and each pivotably connecting the respective pair of links, each of said units including at least two adjacent coupling elements and at least some of said plates having elongated windows with end sections for the respective coupling elements, with an intermediate section therebetween, wherein the windows are shaped to prevent displacement of the coupling units from the respective end sections into the intermediate section, at least some of said coupling elements being rockable about axes normal to the respective plates and having rounded external surfaces contacting rounded internal surfaces of the respective plates in said windows thereof, said rounded surfaces having radii of curvature and the ratio of the radii of curvature of said internal surfaces to the radii of curvature of said external surfaces being greater than one, and wherein points of contact between said rounded surfaces of different radii are in low critical stress areas. 
 
   
   
     7. The link chain of  claim 6 , wherein the plate includes projections that extend into a respective elongate window and define the end sections and in part define the radius of curvature of the rounded internal surface.